Episode 1: Genre Misunderstanding: An Extra's Survival Story

Episode 1: Choosing the Right Genre Is Important

The real charm of romance fantasy (rofan)—no matter what anyone says—lies in the conflict between characters.

Unpleasant encounters that begin even before school starts. Prejudices and misunderstandings that arise from them.

Then the cliché realization: “Wait, I have to see this jerk’s face for the next few years because we’re in the same grade?”

Bickering over petty things, squabbling nonstop. Getting closer through some shared experience, only to drift apart again. Rinse and repeat.

Until one big turning point makes one—or both—fall for the other.

Their feelings change gradually through various incidents and crises. That’s the essence of romance fantasy.

“I really hate you. Disappear. I said get out of my sight!”

And yet, instead of a slap, the heroine throws a fireball.

“Tch. I’ve held back long enough, but I suppose lowborns can’t help being vulgar.”

Meanwhile, the male lead blocks it with a wall of water summoned at his fingertips.

‘This is supposed to be a romance fantasy?’

Honestly, anyone would mistake this for a superpowered battle story.

Sitting between the two with an umbrella in hand, Abel once again lamented his situation.

***

There’s such a thing as intuition.

Familiar situations. A sense of flow you’ve experienced before. A survival instinct that tells you the best course of action in that moment.

“This is a superpower story.”

In that regard, Abel had absolute faith in his instincts.

A world filled not only with magic but all sorts of supernatural abilities.

Water, fire, lightning, ice, telekinesis—you name it. If you started listing them all, you could probably talk for hours nonstop.

His own sister used to walk around with a glowing aura as a kid and even got scouted by the church recently.

“Then what about me?”

Abilities weren’t as common as pebbles on the street. The awakening of powers, referred to as “awakening,” was rare enough to count on one hand.

But to get reincarnated and still be a plain, powerless nobody? That’s beyond unfair.

Abel had already shouted “Status window!” over a hundred times to no avail—it only made things more frustrating.

He needed powers. He wanted strength, fame, admiration, envy.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t been able to get any of those in his previous life that he craved them so much now.

“Father, I want to become an ability-user like my sister!”

“Don’t worry, Abel. From the very first head of our household to me, everyone in our Rotensilt family has had powers. You likely will too. It’s in our blood.”

Was it divine grace for being thrown into a strange world without warning?

Abel had been reborn into one of the empire’s most influential noble families.

A family famous for producing people with awakened powers, no less.

In other words, he had access to all kinds of resources and methods to awaken his hidden potential.

Many experiments and tests followed—and at last, Abel discovered that he did have a power. And that power was…

“Young Master Abel! Are you still doing physical training? It’s been ten hours!”

First, the endurance to keep moving forward through any pain or hardship!

“You little rascal! Where have you been? Everyone was worried when you disappeared!”

Second, the survival instinct to camp outdoors for three whole days at age seven just to awaken a power—and still come back completely fine!

‘Wait, wait, wait… isn’t this just… having no powers at all?!’

At ten years old, that thought suddenly hit him—but Abel shook his head violently.

To be a reincarnator without a single special ability?

That’d be like a fish-shaped pastry without filling, or a squinty-eyed anime character who isn’t hiding immense power, or an old man with white hair who isn’t the strongest being in the universe!

His gut was telling him:

This world is a superpower story. No doubt about it.

And in a world like that, how could you possibly survive the future without powers?

To stay alive.

To protect his family.

He had to discover his ability—whatever it was.

Abel swore to himself again and again.

And so, he forgot—

That sometimes, your gut can be wrong.

After all, he had read a superpower novel right before reincarnating. So he was sure this had to be one too…

***

Across the continent, countless nations each live according to their own ways.

They have their own histories, laws, rules, and systems. No one knows what might happen if someone interferes or meddles with these.

And yet—there is one thing.

One thing that all nations discussed, agreed upon, and carried out together:

The establishment of the Continental Academy.

A place where all officially recognized ability-users from every nation would be sent to receive education.

Each of them is an incredibly valuable human resource. It would actually be far more beneficial to hide them and keep their powers secret.

So why, then, did every country vote in favor of such an institution?

“The international tension caused by ability-users is getting worse.”

“According to foreign policy experts, there’s a growing likelihood that war could break out within five years.”

Ignorance breeds fear, concern, and excessive hostility.

And the powers that exist on this continent can easily become deadly weapons.

One mistake won’t just ruin a country—it could lead to complete mutual annihilation.

So, they decided to reveal just enough of their hands to ease tensions and end the guessing games. At the same time, they could give their own ability-users the chance to interact with those from other nations and gain experience.

When you thought about it, this was all for the sake of strengthening their own gifted—everyone stood to benefit.

“This is ridiculous. Why should we let the neighboring countries learn about our precious ability-users?”

“Instead of this nonsense, let’s secretly train them even more.”

At first, there were plenty of doubts and opposition.

But when a few major powers united behind the idea, the rest naturally followed.

It was all a calculated move.

By sending their ability-users to the Continental Academy, they could gather intelligence on other countries.

If possible, they might even build rapport and subtly recruit talented individuals from abroad.

And more than anything, the nightmare scenario—

If they delayed and let other countries bond and form alliances first—

That thought was enough to make them act.

So all the nations of the continent began sending their ability-users to the Academy, and soon, a new cultural norm formed:

If you have powers, you should obviously attend the Academy. If you can’t? Then you’re a second-rate at best—not even worthy of being called an ability-user!

“That’s enough. We’ll stop there.”

And today, another ability-user was undergoing the entrance evaluation for the Academy.

“What do you think?”

Abel asked the panel of examiners, trying hard to hide his nervousness.

Was his power real, or was it just slightly above average talent?

The five evaluators, who had been quietly discussing it among themselves, finally reached a conclusion.

“After a thorough review and in-depth discussion, we, the examiners of the Continental Academy, recognize Abel Rotensilt’s power awakening.”

“His abilities appear to involve swordsmanship, or possibly physical enhancement. We’ll assess further after his Academy admission.”

Finally.

At last!

Abel clenched his fist tightly and raised it to the sky.

A new life.

A new family.

And now, finally, a path to a new future.

Off in the distance, he could see his family unable to contain their joy.

It was rare enough to have one awakened ability-user per generation—his family now had two.

It wasn’t just a source of pride for the parents, but for the entire noble house—and even the kingdom.

“You did well, Abel. You really worked hard.”

“I’m so proud of you, my son.”

“Both my younger siblings are ability-users… I’m jealous, but I’ll be content with my title.”

“That means you’ll be my junior now, huh? See you at the Academy!”

His father. His mother. His older brother. His older sister.

Even the retainers and servants who had done their utmost to support him—

Now that he had officially become a recognized ability-user, it was time to live up to their expectations and take on his responsibilities.

He would achieve top grades at the Academy, graduate, and rise to become one of the kingdom’s strongest.

“Abel Rotensilt, raise your head.”

Even his homeland was so delighted by the news that they summoned him to the royal palace.

Now, face-to-face with the king, Abel followed the order, his nerves on edge.

“For two ability-users to emerge from House Rotensilt, a family loyal to our kingdom—what joyous news this is.”

“It is an immeasurable honor, Your Majesty.”

“Truly fortunate. I had been pondering several things upon hearing the news of the incoming class at the Continental Academy.”

Several things?

Still bowing, Abel tried to guess what the king meant by that.

He couldn’t be certain, but it didn’t seem to be entirely positive. The way the king had said “truly fortunate” left a strong impression that something had been troubling him.

“The third prince of the Empire has been recognized as an ability-user and will be enrolling. Were you aware?”

“I regret to say I was not, Your Majesty.”

“Did you also not know that the son of Akin Phoenix, the continent’s strongest pyrokinesis user, and the son of Jacob Sparrow, the continent’s top water-type master, are among your fellow new students?”

“…That too, I have only now learned.”

“Many other extraordinary ability-users will be entering the Academy as well. Abel, you will be one of the faces and futures of our kingdom as you enter alongside them.”

Listening to the king’s explanation, Abel shivered slightly. A nervous tension filled him—indescribable, yet somehow exhilarating.

Yes, this was the true beginning of an ability-user story. A grand gathering of elite talents. It felt like the birth of a “golden generation,” where no single person could be considered the clear main character.

“I believe you will do well.”

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I, Abel Rotensilt, shall give it my all in the name of the kingdom.”

He refused to be a background extra in this world of ability-users.

He didn’t care who the protagonist was. This life was his—and he would be its main character.

He would become the greatest ability-user. And with that, he would gain glory, honor, and…

“As it happens, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Whatever it may be, I shall do my utmost to fulfill it.”

“There are other new students from our kingdom entering the Academy along with you.”

At the king’s nod, the chamberlain beside him stepped forward and handed Abel a sheet of paper.

“Seria Frisian?”

Upon inspection, she was the daughter of a baron who governed a tiny, remote territory at the edge of the kingdom.

So small and insignificant it barely qualified as a proper fief.

Aside from her pink hair—which apparently gave her a bright and charming impression—there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy.

“She bears a noble surname, but was born a commoner.”

“Your Majesty?”

“The baron, having no children or close relatives, took in an orphaned girl and raised her as his own. The noble council approved her as the official heir.”

“…”

“Her origin may be humble, and her land minuscule compared to House Rotensilt, but she still lives under our kingdom’s banner. So Abel, I ask that you keep an eye on her from time to time. We can’t afford a stain on the kingdom’s name. Of all the new students, I believe you’re the best one for the task.”

Seria—the girl mentioned in the document—was an ability-user who had awakened in a place where such things had never happened before.

Clearly, the king wasn’t confident in her abilities.

The Continental Academy was a place of unity, yes, but it was also a battlefield of fierce competition.

If one of the kingdom’s ability-users ended up dead last, it would be a national embarrassment.

So the king was entrusting Abel—scion of the noble Rotensilt family, which had produced ability-users for generations—to keep an eye on her and support her if needed.

“As Your Majesty wishes.”

“I shall not forget your service, Abel Rotensilt.”

There’s a reason people say things like “Pink-tsundere” or “Pink-cute”—they don’t say it for nothing. With that thought, Abel left the royal palace and decided to officially begin preparing for his admission.

‘In superpower stories, what kind of role does the pink-haired character usually play again?’

…He pondered that curious question.

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